Countless seniors have understandably said that to friends and family members. When it comes to independence, your own home and a skilled nursing facility exist at opposite ends of the spectrum. While there are many new housing options for seniors that did not exist a generation ago, let's focus on the outcome people hope for the most — being able to live safely in the home they’ve known and loved.

As is often the case, things go more smoothly when you plan in advance, even if you’re a younger homeowner. They might assume there are many years to go before they’d be considered “aging,” but assumptions are often incorrect and time has a way of speeding up on us as we age. That’s one main reason we call ourselves the Office for the Aging instead of Office for the Aged. We’d like you to get to know us long before you need us.

Begin planning by taking a look around your home or the kind of home you hope to own someday. Soon you’ll notice that even brand new homes can come with potential pitfalls that can be overlooked by younger people, such as laundry machines in the basement or bathrooms on upper floors. Additionally, a house that makes sense for you in 2017 may be too much house to maintain in 2047, but advance planning can smooth over the bumps in the road ahead.

If you can borrow a wheelchair, try this experiment: Does the wheelchair fit through doorways, down a hall, around corners and out to the yard? Will there be space for a ramp if there isn’t one already?

Think about storage, too. Are the cabinets in places where you’ll be able to reach things without a step stool? Do you store seasonal items in an attic, a shed, a spare room or away from home at a storage unit? Think also about what will become of your possessions after your death and consider selling or donating what you no longer use, and do it sooner rather than later. Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were able to order pyramids built so they could take their earthly possessions to the afterlife. Chances are you don’t have the budget for that.

Is your mailbox on your side of the road so you don’t have to cross traffic for your mail?

Last, but by no means least, check the bathroom(s), because they’re the place where many of the worst falls happen. Are the bathrooms on floors where stairs won’t be needed? Is it easy to get into and out of the shower? Will there be room to install equipment such as grab bars and raised toilet seats?

We’ve tried to raise some obvious questions in this article, but for income-qualified senior homeowners there’s an excellent local resource in Rebuilding Together Dutchess County (www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org; 845-454-7310), which can assist with many senior-friendly safety improvements.

Todd N. Tancredi is director of the Dutchess County Office for the Aging. Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 27 High St., Poughkeepsie; call 845-486-2555, email: ofa@dutchessny.gov; visit www.dutchessny.gov/aging